By Grace Q. Bryant
The Former Chief Justice of Liberia, Gloria Musu-Scott, and other relatives on Monday, August 28, 2023, pleaded not guilty, in the ongoing alleged murder case at the Criminal Court “A” at the Temple of Justice.
Defendants Gloria Musu-Scott, Getrude Newton, Rebecca Youdeh Wisner, and Alice Johnson pleaded, after their indictment was read in open court by the clerk.
The defendants were arraigned in court, following the charges of Murder, Criminal Conspiracy, and False Reports to Law Enforcement Officials, in violation of Section 14.1, 10.4 &12.33 of The New Penal Law of Liberia.
The Government indictment on February 22, stated that the defendants, with criminal minds and intent, armed with a sharp instrument believed to be a knife, and pepper spray, willfully, intentionally, purposely, and maliciously inflicted several bodily injuries on the person of Charloe Musu, including her chest, right hand, left thigh, and left armpit, which led to her death, thereby committing the crime of Murder
The defendants, having pleaded not guilty to crimes, have joined issue with the state prosecutors. State prosecutors however requested the court for a jury trial and same was granted by Judge Roosevelt Willie of Criminal Court “A”.
The jurors’ selection process commenced immediately after the defendants pleaded. The jurors, when selected, will serve as judges of facts, to either acquit the defendants or find them guilty.
In another related development, Judge Willie denied government lawyers’ motion for change of venue of the case from Montserrado County to another destination within the bailiwick of Liberia.
Judge Willie said his decision to deny the motion was based on the government’s failure to provide a genuine and legal grounds upon which it wants the case to be taken out of Montserrado County.
Prior to denial of the motion, one of prosecutions’ lawyers, Cllr. Bobby Livingstone, cited 5.7(b) of the Criminal Procedure Law of Liberia and argued that the change of venue filed by them is primarily based on the waves of publicity given to the case by both print and electronic media.
He argued that some legal practitioners, including the former Solicitor General, Cllr. Saymah Syrenius Cephus, have been discussing the case and the public has already rendered judgment into the matter while it is yet to be tried.
“Prospective jurors also have heard a lot on the case, so if the case is tried in Montserrado County, we believe that will not have an impartial trial,” Cllr. Livingstone noted.
In their resistance, one of defense lawyers, Cllr. Augustine Fayiah, said prosecution’s motion for change of venue is meant to delay and baffle the proceedings.
Cllr. Fayiah said the action of the state violates Article 21(h) of the Liberian constitution, which talks about right to speedy trial.
